Electric-current regulator.



3 SHEETS-SHEET -1.

Patented July 9, 1912 .I. s. GOODWIN.

ELECTRIC CURRENT REGULATOR.

APPLICATION FILED JAILG, 1912.

.... M q p I J. S'. GOODWIN.

ELECTRIC CURRENT REGULATOR.

APPLICATION FILED JAN.6, 1912.

1 @3138. I Patented July 9,1912.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

J. S. GOODWIN.

ELECTRIC CURRENT REGULATOR.

APPLICATION FILED JAN. 6, 1912.

' 3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

JOSEPH sou-nus eoonwimor sweetest-w r scuers-consular as sur- Application else Jasmine, 912 Eerie enable a Q volt lamp ,to be used volt continuous'eircuit. f

The inventflqn'consists in a current interrupter comprising-a large number of synchronous interrupter contacts connected. in series in the circuit, and so arranged that the ratio of the time during w ich the current is flowing to the time during which it is'interrupted is such as to give an average wattage equal to the wattage that the 'con-. sunilngmdevieewas constructed to consume.

Infapractiealway.of carrying out my inyentionge large number-otn etal contact pieces are mounted flush with the surface of an insulating cylinder in one or more rows parallel to its axis, an'dthis cylinder is ro tated at a high speed by any suitable means, preferably by an electric motor.

Two

on a '200 crushes bear on each contact and the brushes "are also connected in alternate pairs not counting the two end brushes. The current to be transformed enters by one end brush and leai es the other end brush.

l'trw ill be seen that'when the brushes are on the contacts the current-flows from one end brush through a contact aud a pair of connected brushes alternately, to the other end- ;brush." Thus when the drum is rotated,

andthe two end brushes are'couuected in the circuit to be modified, the circuit is broken at a great number of points simultaneously, thus reducing the length of the spark at average wattage of the interrupted current can'be determined by the ration of the time during which the current is flowing to the time during which. it is interrupted so that by altering the relative length of contact, and length of interruption, the exact required average wattage can be: obtained.

Specification (if Ifetters Patent.

in ehlgher yoltajge eircuit,- for example, to

is a transverse section of r 15;. i

v ranged to rotate the cylinder break in inverse proportion to toe number: otbrushes. It Wlll also be seen that the LINEN, EH

iven. above the totalle i any one circinnterence is 1 circumference of the dry n. Thespeee t which the interrupter is 11 i is unimport t so long as it not so s? as to cause Bring of the'la'mps. or the current flow uninterru enoughto h.- 2 out the lamps or 111 1 strain any ing device in the but-so long his minimum is. exec speed nee 3e constant. 1 The on the spindle shaft the circuit ten the speed of the reduced helm a safe limit. '-@ne storm of the invention; is i in the accompanyingdrawin i I i l I I- v 7 Figured is a side elevation of the apr ratus. Fig. 2 1s a plan of Fig. l.

through. A. B. Figs. 4. is a transi erse section. taken thro- C. of l. is a diagrarnnia L, view of the circuit conn ctions showing the relation the volt reducing means or regulator to the and consumption circuits, in d of the driving motor for the 'ula said circuits. v

The inter 'upter which is mounted on shaft a comprises a cylinder or drum. insulating material with metallic 0 arranged around. the periphery N flush with the cylinder surface. These seg ments are in the term of strips eiitendingr from end to end. of the cylinder, and dizid at intervals by annular grooves in the cy-, inder.

At the sideof the drum 3 and ittle low'the thereof, the contact JS sti brushes (Z are arran 'ed- The bros;

connected in s ils, each pair being to troin the ad acent pair while their er con-- nect the adjacent segments as trey come in.-

ed in contact with the end metallic segments c. Arcorresponding sleeve j with. an enternal conical flange is mounted on a fiber V I Sill bush 71; to slide on shaft a, The bush k and a similar bush Z fined to the shaft (2 are con points as there are brushes. Thus the'tend-- ency to spark is reduced to a minimum.

The dimensions of the metallic segments on the cylinder and the thickness of the brushes must be so proportioned with relation to the insulating material as to allow the current to pass a sufiicient time to give the required average wattage.

be current of: the circuit in which the wattage is to be regulated is passed through the brushes from 0 to p,

In Fig. 5, the source of current of high electroanotive force is indicated. by the mains 1 and 2, which, of course, will be connected with a generator of any approved type, and the motor h is connected by a lead 3 to the main 1, and by a lead 4; to a switch 5 that has a movable contact 5 and fixed contacts 6 and 7. The contact 6 is connected with a wire 8 which is part of the consumpt-ion circuit that includes lamps or other translating means 9 which can be connected into and out of circuit by switches, push buttons or the like 10, said translating dcviccs being connected also with the main 2. Thus, current can flow through the motor and translating devices by the path consisting of the main 1, lead 3, motor it, lead 4, switch contacts 5 and ('3, wire 8, switch 10, lamp 9, and main 2. The motor is thus caused to rotate, and when the speed attains a suitable value, the speed-rcsponsive device connected with the shaft of the motor will close the switch 7', '5, of the voltage reducing device or regulator. The wire 72 leads from this speed controlled switch to the consumption devices 8*. The other terminal of the regulator is connected by a wire 11 with the main 1, and-in this wire '11 is an electromagnet 12 which operates on an armature 13 carried by the movable member 5 of the switch S to cause said member to move into engagement with the fixed contact 7 when the current flows through the voltage-re ducing device or regulator. That is to say, when the speed of the motor reaches a given point, current will. flow from the main 1,

through the wire 11, voltagereducing device or regulator, switch j, 71, wire p, consumption device 9, and main 2. As the result, the electro magnet will cause the switch S to cut the motor it out oi? series relation with the consumption device 9 and close the motor circuit across the mains. The electromagnet 12 will remain energized long as the speed of the motor is maintained. When it falls, the circuit will openat j, 2', and thereby delinergize the electro-magnet 12 so that the member 5 of the switch S will return to engagement with the contact 6, thereby completing the circuit of the consumption device through the motor, the resistance of the motor being relied on to prevent the destruction of the consumption device by current of too high voltage.

. What I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is 1. In a system of the class described, the combination of a source of relatively high energy, a consumption device adapted to operate at lower voltage than the said source, a regulator for reducing the voltage between the said source and device, said regulator comprising means for making and breaking the circuit between the said source and device at a number of points simultaneously and in rapid succession, and an automatic means for opening the circuit when the periods of current flow through the said means exceeds a predetermined duration.

2, In a system of the class described, the combination of a source of current of comparatively high voltage, a current consumption device adapted for a lower voltage, a regulator comprising a plurality of sets of relatively movable contacts for opening and closing the circuit at a plurality of points simultaneously, and a speed-responsive device for opening the circuit independently of the said contacts when the speed of the movable contacts drops to a predetermined point.

3. In a system of the class described, the combination of a source of current of relatively high electro-motive force, a consumption device adapted to operate at a lower electro-motive force, a regulator of the in terrupter type for reducing the voltage between the said source and device, and means in series with the regulator and device for opening the circuit when the periods of cur rent flow through the regulator are pro longed beyond a given duration.

4. A system of the class dcsc 'ibed comprising a source of current of relatively high voltage, a low voltage consumption de vice, a voltage reducing means comprising a series of movable contacts, and iixcd contacts cooperating with the movable contacts to make and brcak the circuit at a plurality of points simultaneously, and speed-responsive device movable 'W'th the, movable contacts for opening the circuit when the rate of movement of the movable contacts falls below a given point.

5. In a system of the class describcd,.thc combination of a source of current of rela tively high voltage, a low voltage consumpto make and break the circuit simultane ously, a motor for driving the movable contacts, a switch in series with the saicl means and consumption device, and means for opening the switch when the motor speed falls below a certain point, 7

6. A system of the class described cbmprising a supply circuit of relatively high voltage, a low voltage consumption. means, a current-reducing re ulator of the inter rupter type and including a motor-driven element, 'a'motor for the said element, a

switch through which ihe in circuit with the oonsu I switch controlled by the ape ii oi the mob for closing the ciicc irough She u tor, and means res 1 lslve to cur exit iio ing through ihe reguiatr motor switch to couneca the 1 supply circuit indie encleniily oi: sum piiou device.

In testimony whereof have affixed. uiay 2e signature in mres nce oi 'i tvo Witnesses JUSZEP /Vitluesees ALBERT JONEE Tit-mime HENRY iflixowiai 1 ooowiir. 

